Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-07
CATARRH.

THE TERM CATARRH is APPLIED TO A
L peculiar disorder of the nostTils and ad-
jacent parts, which prevails to an alarming
extent, and is productive of very serious
consequences.
The most prominent and characteristic
feature is morbid discharge from the head,
varying in its nature at different times.
In some there is an almost constant flow
of clear, acrid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
purulent or muco-purulent, greenish- yellow
matter is secreted, which accumulates in
the nostrils or drops into the throat, neces-
stating its frequent removal by blowing the
nose or expectoration, and often by both
processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their head was in state of rotten
ness, so great is the amount of matter dis
charged and 20 fetid is its odor. The pa
tient is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat of the bid
matter from the head, and as recumbent
position naturally fayors the flow downward
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause. Many sufferers are obliged to lie 18th
the head very much elevated in order to
sleep with some degree ot comfort.
In others a tough, viscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the passage between the throat and
head, adhering to the parts with gluish tenac-
ity. Its lodgment embarrasses respiration
and creates a sensation of irritation and un-
easness in the affected locality, which gives
rise to II constant and almost Irresistible de-
sire to relieve that discomfort by drawing
the mucus into the throat so as to eject it by
the mouth. This practice, pOpularly known
as "hawking," is characteristic of catarrh,
and proves as EN- mbarrassing TO the one af-
fected as it is disagreeable TO those around
him.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits itself on the membrane in the shape
OF dry, hard cOncretions. which are dis
charged by way of the nostrils or throat in
humps or fragments of deep green tint. In
ipp tot 1ot>
to such an extent as to form a regular plug
in the nose, which obstructs breathing and
produce serious discomfort. So firmly do
these incrustations adhere to the point of
attachment that their removal usually re-
quires the most violent efforts; not unfre-
quently they have to be torn from the men,
brane. Occasionally Il solid cast of notable
size is expelled, on which there are gen rally
traces of blood, but in some cases the cast
presents tubular appearance, being of exact
shape of the nasal cavity. This condition is
indicative OF ulceratlon, which, in time,
may destroy the bOny structure of the nose
and produce subsequent flattcning of that
organ.
Cases are occasionally met with in which
thick, vlscid,, Shiny secretion coats the
membrane of the nasal cavities and then
putrefies giving rise TO stencil which is
really overpowering and sufficiently fetid
to poison the atmosphere of u whole room;
and there are others in which all the secre-
tions of the membrane are suspended, csus-
ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness, heat
and feverishness in the head and nose-a
condition popularly known as DRY
The disease speedily extends TO the air
cavities of the bones of the forehead and
face, giving rise to dist essing sensation of
heavy weight or compression over the fore
mead, especially in the region above and be-
tween the eyes, and to a feeling of fulness,
heat, irritation, sor, ness or pal in the nos
trils near the root of the nose, as well as in
the upper part of the throat, above and be-
D1Dfn =
pain obstinately fixed in some particular
part, as in the temple on the top of the
head, at the back of the neck or behind the
orbits, and, occasionally, pain manifests
Itself in the face OF so severe character
that it is frequently mistaken for n, ulalgia.
The breath is always tainted, and at times
assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odOr. In some cases it becomes so revolt,
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object OF disgust to himself as well us to
others.
The nasal membrane is thickoncd and
conlestcd, causing the nose to be stopped up,
sometimes on one side, sometimes on the
other, and often on both, giving rise to
disagreeablc, stuffy sensation in the head,
ana occaslonlng Violent and prolonged
The voice is weak, indistinct and husky.
or OF nasal character, displaying a sort of
smiling quality. Oftentmes there is a con-
hnuous hoarseness and discordance. There
Is also sense of irritation in the part,
and frequent attempts TO clear the throat of
phlegm, producing the sound chem" more
or less forcibly. In some cases patients
complain OF an uncomfortable feeling Of
fullness, or choky sensation in the throat,
and in others of distressing and almost
constant dryness, for the temporary relief o.
which they have to swallow frequently.
Otnerf; again, speak of a constant bad or
nauseous taste in the mouth or throat
The stomach generally suffers more or less
and becomes weak and irritable: the appe-
t tlte Is caPricions and nearly always bad in
the morning. The patient is languid, unable
to perform mental or physical labor with
the usual Facility, Is nervous, depressed in
spirits, at times fearful, timid, agitated and
inclined to drowsiness and sleep, the mem-
seriously threatened.
me mucous membrane soon becomes
morbidly sensitive to unfavorable infiu-
ences, and in spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes, so
that at last breath of wind upon the lining
OF the nose or throat becomes productive ot
cold, and gives rise to serious disturbances
OF the respiratory organs. Thus the patient
Is subject to frequent and repeated colds,
each attack aggravating the disease by CIV
ing it a new impulse and involving u larger
extent OF surface than its predecessor. In
this manner the difficulty spreads from, or
gan to organ, invading the throat, larnyx,
trachea and bronchial tubes, until, en-
croaching further and further, it reaches
the finer ramitications of the bronchi, when
but slight impulse is required to send it to
the lungs. CataTh may, and often does,
affect other organs in the body, especially
those contain ng mucous membrane, such
as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc
By the employment of proper inhalatIons
in the form of medicated vapor mot steam
or spray) we are able to produce immediate
and direct action upon the diseased surface
in the pharynx and nasal passages, for air
will find its way into the most remote and
intricate cavities, where it is utterly impos-
slble TO make fluid applications. by these
means every case can be cured
Persons desiring treatment by this system
OF practice can use the remedy at home as
well as at our Office, and which will cause
no Inconvenience or hindrance to business
whatever.
have seen so many of these cases cured
that do not consider any case hopeless un-
less the disease has advanced to the chest
and that both lungs are seriously involved
Even then the inhalations aid us in dis
SOWING the mucus and in contracting and
1ealing the cavities, which nothing else can
40 with the same success. The very best
references from those already cured.